Paper feed for wrapping machines



Jan. 13, 1948. w. HOPPE PAPER FEED FOR WRAPPING- MACHINES Filed Feb. 13, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR V MLL/A Hop/=5 BY @LA M ATTORNEYS Jan. 13, 1948. w HOPPE PAPER FEED FOR WRAPPING. MACHINES 7 Filed Feb. 13, 1946 :5. Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO R whunlvfi 'oppz BY *?!46 ATTORNEYS Jan. 13, 1948. w. HOPPE 2,434,616

PAPER FEED FOR WRAPPING MACHINES Filed Feb. 15, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 3' I INVENTOR y kg 1, Balm/9156M:

9L ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 13, 1948 PAPER FEED FOR WRAPPING MACHINES William Hoppe, Longmeadow, Mass, assignor to National Bread Wrapping Machine 00., Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 13, 1946, Serial No. 647,224

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in web feeding mechanisms for wrapping machines of the general type shown in my prior Patent 2,347,560, April 24, 19,44. In this type of web feed the wrapper is supplied in the form of a continuous web, the leading end of which initially hangs down between the unwrapped article and an article carrier. A constantly rotating roll in fixed position has a friction surface so that whenever the movement of the article into the carrier or the subsequent movement of the carrier tends to draw out the wrapper the latter will be tightened around the roll and will be fed out without substantial strain on the article. This is particularly important where the article is easily deformed as in the case of a sliced loaf of bread. Before the wrapper is severed a second or draping roll is moved downwardly to tighten the wrapper around the rotating roll and cause the feeding out of a sufficient length of wrapper to form the proper initial amount for the wrapping operation upon the next succeeding article.

In the use of the mechanism of my prior patent it has been found that there is a tendency at certain stages in the movement of the carrier for the wrapper to exert an undesirable pull upon the article. This is due to the fact that, as the carrier starts to move, it initially approaches the rotating roll, causing the formation of slack which is subsequently taken up with a sudden pull on the wrapper. In accordance with the present invention this diiiiculty is avoided by giving a second function to the draping roll, causing it to move downwardly as the carrier starts to rise and then to move upwardly with the carrier although preferably at a slower rate. In this way formation of slack during the initial part of the carrier movement will be avoided and no sudden pull of the wrapper on the article can occur.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view of the wrapping mechanism, partly in median section, with the parts in the positions assumed as an article is being advanced into the carrier; and

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are similar views showing successive stages in the wrapping operation.

Articles are fed into the machine along an upwardly inclined guideway l2 having side plates l3 by an intermittently actuated conveyor l4 having spaced flights i5. Located above this guideway are horizontal plates l1, l8 forming the floor of a wrapping and delivery channel. A carrier arm |9 is pivoted to the machine frame at 2B and has attached to it a depending arm 2| for cam operation as described in Patent 2,347,560. At its outer end the carrier has an article supporting plate 26 which, as the carrier is oscillated by the cam, moves between an article-receiving position of Fig. 1 and an article discharging position of Fig. 4. Side folding plates 21 are shown mounted on the carrier as described in said patent.

The wrapper web w is fed from any desired source over a plate 28 near the end of which is located a feed roller 29 preferably having a rubber or other frictional surface and being driven continuously by suitable connections. Mounted at the ends of a pair of arms 30 is a second roller 3| set so as to come close to the roller 29 but preferably not close enough to press the web w against it. This roll is swung between its extreme positions of Figs. 3 and 4 by a link 32, rocker 33, adjustable crank 34, link 35, and a swinging arm 36 as fully described in Figs. 10 and 11 of the patent. The cam 31 by which this mechanism is controlled is, however, of a different shape from that in the patent and gives to the roll 3| a novel function in addition to that described therein as will be set forth below. The cutter 38 is preferably operated as in the patent and this and other parts there shown will not be further considered.

The novel operation of the roller 3| can best be considered in connection with a complete cycle of the mechanism for enveloping the article circumferentially in a wrapper. At the start of this operation the leading end of the web is hanging down between the carrier and the advancing article a as shown in Fig. 5 of the patent. As the carrier comes into line with the plate l2 the article is moved onto it by one of the flights l5, folding the lower end of the wrapper between the bottom of the article and the carrier plate 26 as in Fig. 1 of the present case. When, or slightly before, the article has been completely seated on the carrier the latter starts to rise. At the same time the roll 3| is lowered by its cam 31 at a rate sufficient to prevent any formation of slack in the Wrapper between the article and roll 29 instead of remaining stationary as in the former case. Only a relatively slight lowering of the roll, substantially as shown in Fig. 2 is necessary, as the passage of the top of the rising article above the roll prevents any further formation of slack. As the article passes onto the carrier and the roll 3| descends, the wrapper web is continually held tightly around the constantly rotating roll 29, so that the latter feeds the web forwardly by impositive frictional contact just enough to supply the amount of wrapper needed in the progressive envelopment of the article without exerting any substantial strain on the latter.

Once the top of the article has passed the roll 3|, the latter is raised by its cam, although preferably at a slower rate than the rise of the carrier, so that "by' the 'tiinet'he carrier reaches its discharge position or Fig. "3 the fall is in its initial or uppermost position adjacent the roll 29. The wrapper is at this time clamped between the two rolls 39 and 40 on the elevator and'delivery'cham nel respectively, and the roll 3| is lowered rapidly as in Fig. 4 to draw out the "re "ied length 6f wrapper for starting the wrapping t me;

without exerting any strain on the 'ait'ile. when the roll reaches its lower position the lm'ife is operated as in the earlier case and the end of. the web falls down in front of the feeding coifiybr.

The eombiri'ation w t h a wrapping machine of the wee having a ei elevate between an "ii-ia'fee'di'ng and a dial y "station, a emstaatisr aerating fii'tional serracea web seed iolllob'at'd wrapped, then for movement towards the in-feedmg stationtodraw'out a length of web, and finally for movement to its initial position.

WILLIAM HOPPE.

REFERENCES CITED I 'lie following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS i init e 'n .ffi D 2,3i 6 Hom Ap -.2 1, 44 2,356,644 Arelt Aug. 22, 1944 

